Common Cause Gone Astray

Sunday, March 23, 2014

I am glad there are those who look for corruption in government. But power, too much power, even in the hands of those who are supposedly looking after the welfare of ordinary citizens can be a problem.

Sadly, someone at Common Cause is now looking at people in local government who have had various projects named for them. Curtis Adams, Tim Boyd and Warren Mackey are now targeted by these "watchdogs" for using their discretionary funds to provide buildings, benches or signs for schools in their districts.

And then, according to the "watchdogs" someone had the nerve to put that commissioners name on it.

Imagine that, a person elected to serve a district providing a much-needed and worthwhile thing for the residents of their district.

At a time when corruption is running rampant nationally, municipalities are spending more for companies to collect everything from sewer services charges to parking citations than the fees bring in, governors are selling senate appointments and Common Cause is worried about this.

Every school built since the 1920s has a bronze plaque listing the names of school board members and city or county government leaders who were instrumental in building that building. In a world overseen by watchdogs that would have never happened.

Ironically, John Gardner, who founded Common Cause, didn't object to his name being attached to the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities.

After reading the article “County Schools Prepare To Set Priorities For Next Round Of School Building Funding,” I could not help but think about how helpful it would be to have the millions of taxpayer dollars given the owners of Walnut Common apartments to build some new schools. In case you did not know, since 2008 our elected officials have given away millions in taxpayer ... (click for more)

I find it deplorable that Rhonda Thurman is, once again, voicing her opinions so quickly and so vehemently. She seems to be the one school board member that wants media and/or press coverage every time the opportunity avails itself. However, when it comes to responding to personal emails sent directly to her…she zips her lips. I, as all of the citizens of Hamilton ... (click for more)

Rev. Lurone Jennings, administrator of City Youth and Family Development, has been suspended for one week for misallocation of funds. He also is to be issued a letter of reprimand and will undergo ethics training. The action came after a critical audit report from City Auditor Stan Sewell. It says Mr. Jennings transferred $18,500 of funds to a program, Journey Educational ... (click for more)

Walker County Sole Commissioner-Elect Shannon Whitfield said there will be a new arrangement for holding of public commissioner sessions when he takes place at the start of January. Current Commissioner Bebe Heiskell has held Thursday meetings at 3:30 p.m. from time to time in a conference room at her office near the Walker County Courthouse in LaFayette. Mr. Whitfield said those ... (click for more)

Courtney Jones is almost finished with one important segment of her life and she's not wasting any time getting on with the next part. Jones is currently a senior at Hixson High School, but she will graduate next week and heading to Madisonville where she will be playing volleyball at the college level for the Hiwassee Lady Tigers. Jones has been an integral part of Hixson's ... (click for more)

The Walker Valley Mustangs recorded pins in the first five matches and never looked back as they beat host Ooltewah in a prep wrestling match Thursday evening by a resounding 61-12 final. The match began at 120 pounds and James Jur put his team ahead with a first-period pin. Cameron Dwyer, Ethan West, Dillon Clark and Zeth Haynie followed with pins and it never got any ... (click for more)